Collapsible clothes drying rack

ABSTRACT

A collapsible clothes drying rack, including X-shaped collapsible frames and a plurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames. A clip has a head with annularly spaced fingers extending through aligned holes in pivotally connected frame arms. The fingers of each clip define an annular inner space and a generally annular outer surface area. The fingers have a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced from the head a distance equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. Rod ends extend into the space between the clip fingers. Locking arms are similarly pivotally secured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of the rods. Clamps slide over the other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot, with hooks extending from the clamps. A removable drying support surface is provided with connectors on the corners. Each of the connectors include a pair of cords secured on one end to the corner and on the other end to a locking member, with the cords being wrapable around one of the support rods with the cord other ends extending between the pair of cords.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed toward a clothes rack, and moreparticularly toward a collapsible rack for drying damp or wet clothes.

[0002] Collapsible clothes racks have long been well known, such asshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,738,516 and 2,388,637.

[0003] Further, such clothes racks with support frames havinginterconnected scissor or X-shaped configuration pivoting side framesand support rods extending therebetween for supporting clothing which isdamp or wet and requires drying have also long been well known. Such aconfiguration allows the rack to be expanded up to a relatively largearea in order to allow supported clothes to be spaced apart to maximizedrying efficiency, and at the same time allows the rack to be collapsedinto a minimal size which can be readily stored out of the way when notin use. A clothing rack of this type is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 4,828,123.

[0004] It is important that such racks be easily and reliably assembled.It hardly needs saying, for example, that the rack should not fallapart. By the same token, it is desirable to minimize cost of the rackby minimizing component cost and assembly difficulty. Further, it isoften desirable to allow much of the assembly of the device to beaccomplished by the purchaser, inasmuch as the unassembled rack may bepackaged in a smaller space than the assembled rack, thereby saving onshipping costs and point of purchase shelf space. In such a case, it isimportant that proper assembly be as simple as possible for thepurchaser.

[0005] It is also important that such racks be easily and reliablysecured in their uncollapsed (i.e., extended) position when desired tobe used. Further, such a secure position needs to be provided underdifferent conditions, varying from conditions in which virtually noclothes are supported to conditions in which a large number of wet (andtherefore heavy) clothes are being supported. If the rack is notreliably maintained in the desired position when being used, it mayinadvertently collapse. If it were to collapse as a person is placingclothing on it, it could injure the person. If it were to collapsewithout a person present but while drying clothes, it could damage theclothes (e.g., if parts of the clothes were to be pinched in the frame)and at a minimum would result in the clothes not drying properly andmost probably being wrinkled. Even if it were to collapse withoutanything on it or anyone near it, it could fall into something in thevicinity and break that. Moreover, while such a secure configuration isimportant, it is advantageous to allow the user to easily arrange therack in that configuration. A complicated securing structure is notsecure at all if it is so complicated that the user will not be able touse it properly.

[0006] It is also advantageous to provide the maximum support possiblefor clothes, including particularly different types of support fordifferent types of clothes. Racks which provide the ability to supportonly certain types of clothing for drying are therefore of dubiousvalue, in that the owner of such a rack must either own multipledifferent racks to allow drying of different types of clothing (at asignificant cost increase as well as significant increase in use andstorage space required), or may not be able to air dry some of his/herclothes on a rack even if that is the desired drying method. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,123 discloses a mesh support for dryingclothes which is supported by cloth straps which must be tied to arms ofthe rack. If even one of the straps is not properly tied, or becomesloosened, the support could fall so as to drop the drying clothes ontothe floor.

[0007] The present invention addresses one or more of the issues setforth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible clothesdrying rack is provided, including first and second pairs of framemembers and a plurality of rods extending between the pairs of framemembers to maintain the first pair of frame members in an aligned spacedorientation relative to the second pair of frame members. Each of theframe members has two arms pivotally connected together at a pointbetween the arm ends. Distal ends of the arms of one of the framemembers of each pair of frame members are pivotally connected toproximate ends of the other of the frame members of the each pair. Thepivotal connections of the arms include a clip extending through alignedholes having a first diameter in pivotally connected arms. The clip hasa head larger than the first diameter with annularly spaced fingersextending from the head. The fingers of each clip define a generallyannular inner space of a second diameter and a generally annular outersurface area on the order of the first diameter. At least one of thefingers has a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced fromthe head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of thepivotally connected arms. Each pivotal connection also includes the endof one of the rods extending into the generally annular inner spacebetween the clip fingers, with the rod end having an outer diameter onthe order of the second diameter.

[0009] In one form of this aspect of the invention, at least one of thefingers is flexibly bendable into the annular inner space when an end ofone of the rods is not in the annular inner space whereby the fingersmay be completely in a cylindrical area having a diameter less than thefirst diameter.

[0010] In another form of this aspect of the invention, rods also extendbetween the distal ends of the arms of the second pair of frame membersand locking arms adjacent each pair of frame members are adapted toreleasably secure those rods in a selected spacing with the framemembers in an X-shaped configuration. These support clips are similar tothe previously described clips, except that two extend only throughframe member arm ends and two extend through frame member arm ends andlocking arms, with the radially extending shoulder surface of thesupport clip finger of the former two clips being spaced from thesupport clip head only a distance about the thickness of the framemember arm. Rods ends also extend into the generally annular inner spacebetween the support clip fingers. In a further form, the locking armsare pivotally secured to one of the first and second ones of the rods,and the locking arms each include an open slot therein for releasablyreceiving the other of the first and second ones of the rods, with aclamp adapted to slide over the end of one of the locking arms so thatthe clamp covers the open slot when on the locking arm end.

[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a pivotal connection isprovided between arms of a collapsible clothes drying rack having armson opposite sides of the rack spaced apart by rods. A clip extendsthrough aligned holes in the pivotally connected arms, and has a headlarger than arm holes, annularly spaced fingers extending from the headthrough the aligned holes, and a radially extending shoulder surface onat least one of the fingers. The shoulder surface is spaced from thehead a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of thepivotally connected arms. An end of one of the rods extending into thespace between the fingers, with the rod end having an outer surfacesupporting the spaced fingers in a position wherein the generallyannular outer surface area substantially matches the aligned holes andthe radially extending shoulder surface faces a surface of one of thearms.

[0012] In one form of this aspect of the invention, the rod end is areduced diameter portion on the rod, and a rod shoulder adjacent the rodend is substantially adjacent the ends of the fingers.

[0013] In still another aspect of the present invention, a collapsibleclothes drying rack is provided, including two collapsible frames and aplurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames to maintainthe frames in an aligned spaced orientation. Each of the frames haveconnected frame members each having two arms pivotally connected in ascissors configuration. First and second locking arms are each pivotallysecured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at theother end for releasably receiving another of the rods to lock two ofthe arms in an X-shaped configuration. Clamps are adapted to slide overthe other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot.

[0014] In one form of this aspect of the present invention, a hookextends outwardly from at least one of the clamps, with the hook adaptedto securely hang an article of clothing requiring drying.

[0015] In another form, the locking arms are substantially rectangularin cross-section and the rods are substantially cylindrical. Each of theclamps include a substantially rectangular housing portion with an openside for receiving the locking arm end, a slot receiving the one of therods when the locking arm end is received in the housing portion, afirst clothing hook extending outwardly from the housing beyond thelocking arm end, and a second clothing hook beneath and spaced from thelocking arm where the second clothing hook extending from the housing ina direction opposite the first clothing hook.

[0016] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a removable shelffor a collapsible clothes drying rack having a pair of horizontallyspaced support rods is provided, including a generally rectangulardrying support surface with connectors on the corners. Each of theconnectors comprise a pair of cords secured on one end to one of thesupport surface corners and secured on the other end to a lockingmember. The cords are wrapable around one of the support rods with thecord other ends extending between the pair of cords.

[0017] In one form of this aspect of the invention, the drying supportsurface is mesh.

[0018] In another form of this aspect of the invention, the lockingmember may be selectively positioned to retain the cords wrapped aroundthe one of the support rods with the cord other ends between the pair ofcords. In yet another form, the locking member and cords may bemanipulated to pass the locking member between the cords to release thecords from the one of the support rods.

[0019] It is an object of the invention to provide an easily assembledcollapsible clothes rack which may be reliably secured in its usableposition and which may support a wide variety of clothes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes rack embodying thepresent invention;

[0021]FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial perspective views illustrating theconnection of the rods to the frame arms;

[0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial perspective views illustrating the clampfor securing locking arms;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the clampand connection of rod to frame arms; and

[0024]FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial perspective views illustratingconnection of a support surface to a rack rod.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] A collapsible clothes drying rack 10 embodying the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The rack 10 includes two frames 12,14 on opposite sides spaced apart by a plurality of rods 18. In theillustrated embodiment, the frames 12, 14 each comprise threeinterconnected frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c, where each frame member 12a-c, 14 a-c consists of a pair of arms 20, 22 pivotally connected at amidpoint in a scissor or X-shaped configuration. The upper (distal) andlower (proximate) ends of the arms 20, 22 of the frame members 12 a-c,14 a-c of each frame 12, 14 are also pivotally connected.

[0026] The upper (distal) ends of the arms 20, 22 of the upper framemembers 12 a, 14 a of each frame 12, 14 also have locking arms 30, 32which are pivotally connected at one end to one arm 20 of the upperframe members 12 a, 14 a, and are releasably connected to a rod 18 dconnected to the other arm 22 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a. Thelocking arms 30, 32 are also connected to one another by rods 18 b, 18c. Removable clamps 34 secure the locking arms 30, 32 to the rod 18 d.

[0027] A removable mesh member 36 which may be used as a drying supportsurface for selected clothes such as is generally known is also providedon the rack 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The mesh member 36 may besubstantially rigid, or may be a flexible mesh material.

[0028] It will be appreciated that when the locking arms 30, 32 areconnected to the rod 18 d as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rack 10 will bemaintained in its illustrated upright working position, and that whenthe locking arms 30, 32 are released from the rod 18 d (and the meshmember 36 removed), the rack 10 may be easily collapsed to a compactstorage position with the arms 20, 22 abutting the arms of adjacentframe members 12 a-c, 14 a-c and nearly all parallel to one another.

[0029] FIGS. 2-3 illustrate the connection of the rods 18 b, 18 c to thelocking arms 30, 32 (the connection between rod 18 b and locking arm 30being illustrated in FIGS. 2-3). Specifically, the locking arm 30 has anopening with a clip 40 extending therethrough. The clip 40 includes ahead 42 (see FIG. 1) which is bigger than the arm opening and aplurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of fingers 44 which areannularly spaced and extend from the head 42. The fingers 44 areenlarged on the end to define a radially extending shoulder surface 46facing the head 42, and are tapered down on the end remote from the head42. Though all of the fingers 44 are shown with the enlarged end, itshould be appreciated that this aspect of the present invention could beused with only one of the fingers 44 having the shoulder surface 46.

[0030] A generally annular inner space 48 is defined between the fingers44 an a generally annular outer surface is defined by the outer surfaceof the fingers 44 between the head 42 and the shoulder surface 46. Whilesuch an annular configuration assists in easing assembly, it will beappreciated that such a configuration need not be used in either casewhere no pivoting is required. Further, even where pivoting of theconnection is desired, only the outer surface generally needs to beannular. In the case of the connection of the rods 18 b, 18 c to thelocking arms 30, 32, it will be appreciated that the spacing between thehead 42 and the shoulder surface is at least, and preferably on theorder of the thickness of the locking arms 30, 32.

[0031] With the above described configuration, assembly may be easilyand simply accomplished by pressing the fingers 44 of each clip 40 intoappropriate openings in the locking arms 30, 32.

[0032] Due to the spacing between the fingers 44, the fingers 44 willflexibly bend together to allow the enlarged ends to pass through thelocking arm opening. Once the clip 40 is pushed fully into the openingso that the head 42 engages the side of the locking arm 30, 32, theenlarged ends will be clear of the opening and therefore the fingers 44will spring back out to a position in which the shoulder surface 46thereon will abut the opposite side of the locking arm 30, 32 to preventits removal therefrom.

[0033] The rod 18 b, 18 c may then be pushed into the annular innerspace 48 between the fingers 44. As illustrated, the end 50 of the rod18 b may have a reduced diameter along a selected length which willprovide a visual indication on whether or not the rod 18 b, 18 c hasbeen pushed sufficiently far into the clip 40. That is, when the rod 18b, 18 c is pushed in far enough, the shoulder at the beginning of therod end 50 will be substantially adjacent the ends of the clip fingers44. In such a configuration, the rod end 50 extends into the annularinner space 48 substantially the entire distance inside the locking armopening to the head 42 from which the fingers 44 extend. In oneadvantageous form, the outer surfaced of the fingers 44 is maintained bythe rod end 50 inside the fingers 44 to define an annular surface with adiameter generally on the order of the diameter of the locking armopening in which the surface is located, thereby providing a secure,wobble-free connection. In that form, the rod end 50 similarly maintainsthe enlarged ends of the fingers 44 in an expanded position so that theshoulder surface 46 will necessarily abut the side of the locking arm30, 32 to prevent its removal therefrom.

[0034] It should be appreciated that the pivotal connections between theframe member arms 20, 22, both at their midpoint scissors connection andat their end connection between frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c, andbetween the arms 20 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a and thelocking arms 30, 32, may be formed in essentially the identical manner,except that the fingers 44 are longer with the spacing between the head40 and the shoulder surface 46 being generally the combined thickness ofthe arms 20, 22, 30, 32 being pivotally connected (and with the rod ends50 being correspondingly longer as well).

[0035] FIGS. 4-5 the removable clamps 34 advantageously usable to securethe locking arms 30, 32 to the rod 18 d to secure the rack 10 in itsupright working position. Specifically, the locking arms 30, 32 (lockingarm 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-5) each include an open slot 60 which,when the frames 12, 14 are extended to the working position shown inFIG. 1, is aligned with and receives rod 18 d. The clamp 34 includes ahousing portion 62 adapted to received the locking arm end therein (inthe illustrated embodiment, the locking arms 30, 32 are rectangular incross section, so the housing portion is rectangular) by sliding theopen end of the housing portion 62 over the locking arm 30, 32. Thesides of the housing portion 62 include aligned slots 64 which will fitover the rod 18 d in the slot 60. As can be appreciated from FIG. 5 inwhich the clamp 34 is partially slid over the locking arm 30, the bottomsurface of the housing portion 62 will block the open slot 60 when theclamp 34 is fully slid onto the locking arm 30 and will thereby securethe locking arm 30 onto the rod 18 d. Thus, the rack 10 will bereleasably and reliably secured in the working position shown in FIG. 1,with the rack 10 also easily released to fold down into a storageposition by simply sliding the clamps 34 off of the locking arms 30, 32and then pivoting the locking arms 30, 32 so that the rod 18 d is clearof the slot 60 therein.

[0036] The clamps 34 additionally have a pair of oppositely extendingclothing hooks 66, 68 from which suitable clothes may be hung. Forexample, clothing articles having straps which could not readily besecured to the rods 18 (which are closed at the end preventing a strapfrom being placed thereon) can be hung from one or more of the hooks 66,68. It should also be appreciated that the hooks 66 which are spacedbelow the locking arms 30, 32 may not only be used as hooks from whichto hang an article, but an article of clothing may also be more securelyhung through a clamping of a portion of its upper end between thelocking arm 30, 32 and the hook 66. Further, the outwardly extendinghook 68 may be used to hang long articles, as it extends out beyond thebelow structure of the rack 10 (i.e., the rods 18 and frame member arms20, 22 below) and enables such articles to hang straight down withoutrubbing against other portions of the rack 10.

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates the upper left portion of FIG. 1 incross-section, with the rack 10 in its working position. FIG. 6particularly illustrates how the rod end 50 is positioned to ensure thatthe clip fingers 40 are maintained outward so that the shoulder surface46 is maintained in a position in which it will prevent the clip 40 fromsliding out of the opening in the arm 22.

[0038] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate the mesh member 36, and more particularlythe advantageous structure for connecting the mesh member 36 to the rack10. That is, a pair of cords 70, 72 are suitably secured at one end to acorner of the mesh member 36, and are suitably secured at their oppositeend to a locking member 74.

[0039] As used herein, it should be understood that “cord” is meant tobroadly refer to any suitable elongated flexible member including, forexample, straps, wires, ropes, etc. It should also be understood thatwhile a pair of cords are referenced herein, the “pair of cords” wouldalso encompass a single cord with its two ends secured to either themesh member 36 or the locking member 74 with an intermediate portionsecured to the other of the mesh member 36 and locking member 74. “Pairof cords” would also encompass an endless cord looped through openingsin both the mesh member 36 and locking member 74, where “secured ends”would be simply opposite portions of the endless cord, such “ends”potentially being at any portions of the endless cord depending on itslooped position relative to the mesh member 36 and locking member 74.Consistent with this, it will be seen in FIGS. 7-8 that the pair ofcords 70, 72 comprises two different portions of a looped cord, with theends of the looped cord being suitably secured to the corner of the meshmember 36, with the locking member 74 having an opening 76 through whichthe looped cord passes, the portion of the looped cord disposed in theopening being the cord opposite “ends” which are “secured” to thelocking member 74.

[0040] The mesh member 36 may be simply and easily supported on the rack10 as shown in FIG. 1 by connecting portions of the mesh member 36,preferably at the corners thereof particularly where the mesh member 36is flexible, to rods 18 on the rack 10. Specifically, as shown in FIGS.7-8, the cords 70, 72 may be looped entirely around a suitable locationon the rod 18 (e.g., near the rod end when the mesh member 36 issubstantially as long as the rods 18), with the locking member 74 forcedbetween the cords 70, 72 adjacent their connection to the mesh member36, and the locking member then turned to prevent it (and the securedopposite cord ends) from being pulled back between the cords 70, 72. Inthis manner, the cords 70, 72 are retained in a secure position loopedabout the rod 18 to support the mesh member 36 at that location. When itis desired to take the mesh member 36 off of the rack 10, the lockingmember 74 may be manually twisted so that it can pass between the cords70, 72 to release the loop from around the rod 18.

[0041] It should thus be appreciated that a collapsible clothes rackembodying the various aspects of the invention as described above may beeasily assembled, may be reliably secured in its working position, andmay readily support a wide variety of clothes.

[0042] Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the presentinvention can be obtained from a study of the specification, thedrawings, and the appended claims. It should be understood, however,that the present invention could be used in alternate forms where lessthan all of the objects and advantages of the present invention andpreferred embodiment as described above would be obtained.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising:first and second pairs of frame members, each of said frame memberscomprising two arms pivotally connected together at a point between theends of said arms, and distal ends of said arms of one of said framemembers of each pair of frame members pivotally connected to proximateends of the other of said frame members of said pair; a plurality ofrods extending between said each of said first and second pairs of framemembers to maintain said first pair of frame members in an alignedspaced orientation relative to said second pair of frame members;wherein said pivotal connection of said arms each comprises a clipextending through aligned holes having a first diameter in pivotallyconnected arms, said clip having a head larger than said first diameter,annularly spaced fingers extending from said head, said fingers of eachclip defining a generally annular inner space of a second diameter and agenerally annular outer surface area on the order of said firstdiameter, and a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one ofsaid fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said head a distancesubstantially equal to the combined thickness of said pivotallyconnected arms; and an end of one of said rods extending into saidgenerally annular inner space, said rod end having an outer diameter onthe order of said second diameter.
 2. The rack of claim 1, wherein saidat least one of said fingers is flexibly bendable into said annularinner space when an end of one of said rods is not in said annular innerspace to contain said fingers completely in a cylindrical area having adiameter less than said first diameter.
 3. The rack of claim 1, whereinfirst and second ones of said rods extend between said distal ends ofsaid arms of said second pair of frame members, and further comprisingfirst and second locking arms adjacent each pair of frame members andadapted to releasably secure said first and second ones of said rods ina selected spacing with said frame members in an X-shaped configuration;four support clips extending through holes in said distal ends of saidarms, said holes having a third diameter and said support clips eachhaving a support clip head larger than said third diameter, annularlyspaced support clip fingers extending from said support clip head, saidsupport clip fingers defining a generally annular inner space of afourth diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the orderof said third diameter, and a radially extending shoulder surface on atleast one of said support clip fingers, said shoulder surface spacedfrom said support clip head a distance substantially equal to thethickness of said frame member arm on a first two of said support clipsand said shoulder surface spaced from said support clip head a distancesubstantially equal to the combined thickness of said frame member armand said locking arm on a second two of said support clips; and whereinopposite ends of said first and second ones of said rods extend intosaid generally annular inner space between said support clip fingers ofaligned ones of said support clips, said ends of said ones of said rodshaving an outer diameter on the order of said fourth diameter.
 4. Therack of claim 3, wherein said locking arms are pivotally secured to oneof said first and second ones of said rods, and said locking arms eachinclude an open slot therein for releasably receiving the other of saidfirst and second ones of said rods, further comprising a clamp adaptedto slide over the end of one of said locking arms, said clamp coveringsaid open slot when on said locking arm end.
 5. A pivotal connectionbetween arms of a collapsible clothes drying rack, said arms on oppositesides of said rack being spaced apart by rods, comprising: a clipextending through aligned holes in the pivotally connected arms, saidclip having a head larger than arm holes, annularly spaced fingersextending from said head through said aligned holes, said fingersdefining an inner space and a generally annular outer surface area, anda radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said fingers,said shoulder surface spaced from said head a distance substantiallyequal to the combined thickness of said pivotally connected arms; and anend of one of said rods extending into said inner space, said rod endhaving an outer surface supporting said spaced fingers in a positionwherein said generally annular outer surface area substantially matchessaid aligned holes and said radially extending shoulder surface faces asurface of one of said arms.
 6. The pivotal connection of claim 5,wherein said rod end is a reduced diameter portion on said rod, and arod shoulder adjacent said rod end is substantially adjacent the ends ofsaid fingers.
 7. A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising: firstand second collapsible frames each comprising connected frame memberseach having two arms pivotally connected in a scissors configuration; aplurality of rods extending between said collapsible frames to maintainsaid frames in an aligned spaced orientation; first and second lockingarms each pivotally secured on one end to one of said rods and includingan open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of saidrods to lock two of said arms in an X-shaped configuration; and clampsadapted to slide over said other ends of said locking arms to cover saidopen slot.
 8. The rack of claim 7, further comprising a hook extendingoutwardly from at least one of said clamps, said hook adapted tosecurely hang an article of clothing requiring drying.
 9. The rack ofclaim 7, wherein: said locking arms are substantially rectangular incross-section; said rods are substantially cylindrical; and each of saidclamps include a substantially rectangular housing portion with an openside for receiving said locking arm end, a slot receiving said one ofsaid rods when said locking arm end is received in said housing portion,a first clothing hook extending outwardly from said housing beyond saidlocking arm end, and a second clothing hook beneath and spaced from saidlocking arm, said second clothing hook extending from said housing in adirection opposite said first clothing hook.
 10. A removable shelf for acollapsible clothes drying rack having a pair of horizontally spacedsupport rods, comprising: a generally rectangular drying supportsurface; and a connector on the corners of said support surface, each ofsaid connectors comprising a pair of cords secured on one end to one ofsaid support surface corners and secured on the other end to a lockingmember, said cords being wrapable around one of said support rods withsaid cord other ends extending between said pair of cords.
 11. The shelfof claim 10, wherein said drying support surface is mesh.
 12. The shelfof claim 10, wherein said locking member may be selectively positionedto retain said cords wrapped around said one of said support rods withthe cord other ends between said pair of cords.
 13. The shelf of claim10, wherein said locking member and cords may be manipulated to passsaid locking member between said cords to release said cords from saidone of said support rods.